Overview
The Festival
On the waterfront of Corio Bay Geelong, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club is one of Australia’s most successful yacht clubs.
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club welcomes sailing and social patrons alike. The clubrooms offer a cafe and a fully licensed bar.
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club prides itself on being a family club, with generations of families have contributed to the rich culture that the organization now enjoys. Following the huge success of the “Geelong Regatta” now known as the “Festival of Sails”, which was first held on Corio Bay in 1844, the enthusiastic organizing committee unanimously voted for the formation of the Geelong Yacht Club in 1859. On the 27th of March 1924, the Club was granted a Royal Warrant and became the Royal Geelong Yacht Club.
From these humble beginnings, the club has grown to be the home to the best sailing experience you can have, with over 1200 Members ranging in age from 5 to 90. Being an innovative club, strategic to introducing sailing to the community and strengthening the membership base is always uppermost in planning the way ahead.
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club has made a major commitment to Discover Salling and continues to develop youth involvement.
Welcome
On behalf of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, I would like to warmly welcome all sailors, officials, volunteers, support staff and guests to Geelong for the 2024 Festival of Sails. We also thank our major sponsors, the State Government of Victoria, and the City of Greater Geelong for their assistance and ongoing support for the event.
The Festival of Sails is celebrated as a cornerstone of our Australian Sailing calendar. It is not just an opportunity to enjoy the world class sailing that Corio Bay offers, but also a chance to celebrate together and spend time with old friends.
In 2024, we are proud to celebrate the 181st edition of the Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race to be held on Friday, 26 January 2024. We are also excited to see the return of the Jimmy Rum Mornington to Geelong Passage Race providing an alternate start for boats wanting to be involved in the historic passage race!
The Passage Race will be followed by an additional 3 days of high-octane racing on Corio Bay and festivities shoreside at RGYC and the Geelong Waterfront.
There will be the usual spectrum of divisions to cater for a wide variety of boat owners, including sports boats, J111s, S80s, Etchells, cruising keelboats with spinnaker, cruising keelboats without spinnakers, cruising AMS and multihulls.
In addition to our Sailing Regatta, the Festival of Sails attracts tens of thousands of people to enjoy the Australia Day festivities along the Geelong Waterfront. With live music, market stalls, roving entertainers, food trucks, and plenty of free family friendly activities, there is something for everyone.
Whether you are a sailor or a spectator looking for some fun with the family, there is no better place to be than the Festival Of Sails on Geelong’s waterfront in January. We look forward to welcoming you, your crew and family to Geelong in 2024.
Roger Bennett
RGYC Commodore
Sponsors & Partners
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Festival of Sails is the largest yachting event in Australia and the biggest keelboat event in the southern hemisphere. We welcome your interest in becoming involved in this exciting, highly regarded event held in the heart of Geelong in January every year.
The marquee event is the Passage Race from Melbourne to Geelong, a spectacle without peers.
Our loyal sponsors have continued to support us throughout the years, and we encourage you to support those businesses below that allow us to run this fantastic event.
We thank our loyal sponsors who continue to partner with Festival of Sails.
Visit Victoria
Visit Victoria is the primary tourism and events company for the State of Victoria in Australia.
City of Greater Geelong
The City of Greater Geelong supports a broad range of events across our region, from major events to community festivals.
Geelong is Victoria’s largest regional city and our municipality is home to more than 252,000 people.
The City supports events as they deliver measurable economic benefits to our region, market Geelong outside the municipality, and enhance community life and participation for residents and visitors.
Spirit of Tasmania
A new beginning awaits in Geelong
From 23 October, discover Spirit of Tasmania Quay, Geelong, the new Victorian home of Spirit of Tasmania.
MUSTO
MUSTO is the world’s leading sailing brand and a British leader in shooting and equestrian sports. Find the best performance outdoor clothing at Musto.
Leura Park Estate
Established in 1995, Leura Park Estate has firmly established itself as a renowned producer of premium cool maritime climate wines. Leura Park Estate wines are 100% estate grown and predominantly hand picked. A commitment to grape integrity, voice and ‘methode traditionelle’ is showcased in a stable of wines boasting a distinctive and delightful French-style subtlety.
Club Marine
As Australia’s largest provider of boat insurance with over 50 years experience, we have insurance policies to suit your boating lifestyle.
Port Phillip Ferries
Go under the West Gate instead of over it
Forget the stress of driving down the freeway and take the easy way via fast ferries connecting Melbourne with Geelong and Portarlington. Day trips across the bay are made easy with our wide variety of packages, from wineries and award-winning restaurants to cycling and walking tours.
Geelong Marine World
Experience Bellarine Peninsula’s Largest indoor 1500sqm Showroom display of new boats in the region. Geelong Marine World have teamed up with big brands Suzuki, Haines Signature, Stacer Boats Leisure Cat Tow Rex and Dunbier trailers and, we are excited to announce we are now dealers for ITALBOATS
B&G
A Passion For Sailing B&G has been at the cutting edge of sailing innovation for 50 years. Whether you’re motivated by the thrill of your next race or a passion for cruising, our electronics are designed for you. Our racing heritage gives us an unrivalled platform for developing new technology, which is put through its paces by the world’s best, in the most challenging conditions. You’ll find B&G powering Grand Prix victories and inspiring the adventures of cruising sailors.
ICOM
A marine radio is one of the most important safety tools on board any vessel. Icom’s range of VHF and HF marine transceivers offer innovations such as buoyancy, submersible construction, tough military design and AIS receive capabilities. Technical superiority and quality workmanship are the renowned Icom marine radio hallmarks that make boating enthusiasts look no further.
Passionfolk
Passionfolk exists to help businesses to flourish by unlocking and nurturing customer passion. This comes down to using insight and imagination to create well-shaped, well-connected brands. At Passionfolk we combine our big-brand marketing experience with a boutique business approach. Our clients access top-quality marketing and communications management as they need it, rather than having to increase their senior head count.
ctive and delightful French-style subtlety.
Geelong Taxi Network
Geelong & District – professionally trained and trusted 24/7 service. CA Professionally trained and trusted 24/7 service.
Geelong Connected Communities
Geelong Connected Communities is a community company established for the benefit of every Geelong resident. With financial support from our partners, sponsors and supporters, Geelong Connected Communities delivers an ongoing grant program that helps not-for-profit organisations fund programs that make Geelong a better place to be.
38 South Yacht Sales
38 South Yacht Sales concentrate specifically on the sale of cruising yachts, sailing multihulls and race yachts on Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes. One of the longest established and most reputable yacht broker/dealers in Australia, they are also still the best destination in Victoria, for the largest range of new Jeanneau sailing yachts, Aventura sailing Catamarans and of course second hand yachts.
History
The Festival of Sails combines history with tradition; heritage with technology; tactics with teamwork.
First held in 1844, the Festival of Sails has consistently attracted the highest calibre of sailing craft and crew, family and friends, attracting over 100,000 visitors every January, held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) and along the Geelong waterfront.
In 1997, the successful merger of the Geelong Waterfront Festival and RGYC’s historic Australia Day Regatta saw the beginning of a new major event in Victoria – the Festival of Sails. The Festival of Sails is strongly supported by the Victorian Government and the City of Greater Geelong, along with several other stakeholders.
Festival of Sails is particularly famous for its Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race – the oldest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere – which kicks off the festival each year and in 2023 will celebrate its 180th anniversary.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club
Established in 1859, Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) is one of the oldest sailing clubs in Australia and situated in the premier position in the heart of the City of Geelong. RGYC is located on the land of the Wadawurrung people, who have inhabited it for over 25,000 years.
RGYC’s exquisite setting and world-class facilities ensure members and visitors alike can enjoy the club, the location, and all the entertainment, restaurants, accommodation, supermarkets and specialty shops that are conveniently within 200m walking distance.
RGYC is a leader in regatta and event management, hosting Festival of Sails annually as well as the biennial Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong. RGYC has also hosted several World, National and State Championships at the club.
From major events, social activity and action both on and off water, RGYC has something for everyone to enjoy. The onsite Cafe & Catering Operators – The Yot – also offer fine food for your enjoyment. Tailored function bookings are also available via The Yot.
Notably, RGYC was named the 2020 Australian Sailing Club of the Year and in 2021, achieved a 4 Gold Anchor rating in the Marina Industries Association Gold Anchor International Rating Scheme.
News
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Call Goes Out On International Volunteers Day To Join The Team at The 2024 Festival of Sails
They’re the heartbeat and the backbone of almost every event and today, on International Volunteer’s Day, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club has put out the call for their crucial volunteers to sign up for the 2024 Festival of Sails, coming up in January.
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Sensational New and Favourite Aussie Bands Set to Rock the Stage At 2024 Festival of Sails
Hailed as currently one of Australia’s best live acts and with critics around the world stamping their hit record as ‘one of the finest of the year’, rock band ‘Body Type’ is set to take centre stage as the headline act for the 2024 Festival of Sails.
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Local Sailing Star, Evie McDonald Appointed Festival of Sails Youth Ambassador
Young local sailing star, 17-year-old Evie McDonald from Geelong has been appointed the Festival of Sails’ inaugural Youth Ambassador.
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Popular Emerging Music Artists Competition returning to 2024 Festival of Sails
The popular emerging music artists’ competition presented by Forte Magazine will be making a return to the 2024 Festival of Sails and the call is now out for aspiring artists to register.
MAJOR PARTNERS
